Paper cassettes to adjust between different positions

ABSTRACT

An example paper cassette includes a cassette portion; a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the paper cassette, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; and a length selection mechanism to: mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions, while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position.

BACKGROUND

Printers may employ paper cassettes to hold paper to be dispensed during printing operations. Different sizes of paper or other media may be used and stored in the paper cassettes for different printing operations, or as a standard size in different regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example paper cassette to adjust between different positions in a shipping position.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the paper cassette of FIG. 1A in a deployment position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial bottom views of the paper cassette of FIG. 1A, wherein a length selection mechanism includes a flexible arm in a blocking position and an unblocking position, respectively.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are partial bottom views of the paper cassette of FIG. 1A, wherein a length selection mechanism includes a rotatable arm in a blocking position and an unblocking position, respectively.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial bottom views of the paper cassette of FIG. 1A, wherein a length selection mechanism includes a slidable arm in an unblocking position and a blocking position, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of an example printer with a paper cassette to adjust between different positions

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the printer of FIG. 5 with the paper cassette removed.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are rear perspective views of the printer of FIG. 5 with the paper cassette in a shipping position, a first deployment position, and a second deployment position, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the paper cassette of the printer of FIG. 5 including a manually accessible adjustable mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a partial top view of the paper cassette of the printer of FIG. 5 with a length adjuster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to accommodate the different sizes of paper or other media, paper cassettes are generally manually deployed between different sizes. Deploying to the different sizes may cause challenges for a user, especially when unpacking a new printer.

An example paper cassette may adjust between different positions using a length selection mechanism to mechanically select one deployment position of a sliding portion while the sliding portion is in a shipping position, and lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position relative to a cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from a shipping position. Thus the length selection mechanism may be used to mechanically select an appropriate deployment position during manufacture, based for example on the region to which the printer is to be deployed. The deployment position is selected while the sliding portion is in the shipping position, and hence the paper cassette and/or printer may be shipped in the shipping position which has an improved shipping or packing efficiency. Then, when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position (e.g., during unpacking by a user), the sliding portion locks at the selected appropriate deployment position.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an example paper cassette 100 which can adjust between different positions. The paper cassette 100 includes a cassette portion 102 to receive paper therein, a sliding portion 104 to slide relative to the cassette portion 102 to adjust a length of the paper cassette 100, and a length selection mechanism 106. Together, the cassette portion 102 and the sliding portion 104 define a volume of the paper cassette 100 into which paper is received to be dispensed, for example, to a printer.

The sliding portion 104 is arranged initially in a shipping position defining a shipping length L of the paper cassette 100. For example, FIG. 1A depicts the sliding portion 104 in the shipping position. The shipping length L_(s) of the paper cassette 100 is defined from a first end of the paper cassette 100, defined by the cassette portion 102, to an opposing second end of the paper cassette 100, defined by the sliding portion 104. For example, the sliding portion 104 may be arranged in the shipping position during manufacture in order to reduce the length of the paper cassette 100 during packaging and shipping.

The sliding portion 104 is further deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette 100 is longer than the shipping length. For example, referring to FIG. 1B, the sliding portion 104 is depicted in a deployment position. As can be seen, the deployment position is achieved by sliding the sliding portion 104 relative to the cassette potion 102. Further, since the sliding portion 104 has slid away from the first end defined by the cassette portion 102, the length La of the paper cassette 100 when the sliding portion 104 is in the deployment position is longer than the shipping length L. The different deployment positions may correspond, for example, to different lengths of paper received in the paper cassette 100 for use in a printer.

The length selection mechanism 106 is to mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions. For example, the length selection mechanism 106 may include cooperating slots, biased portions, adjustable blocking mechanisms to select the deployment position, as will be described further below. The components of the length selection mechanism 106 may interact mechanically, for example by rotation, sliding, biasing, or the like, to enable the selection of the deployment position, as will be described further below. In particular, the length selection mechanism 106 is to select the deployment position while the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position. That is, when the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position, for example during manufacture and/or prior to shipping, the length selection mechanism 106 may select a suitable deployment position based on end user conditions (e.g., a standard length of paper to be used by the user).

The length selection mechanism 106 is further to lock the sliding portion 104 at the one deployment position, relative to the cassette portion 102, when the sliding portion 104 first slides from the shipping position. Thus, after the paper cassette 100 has been shipped, a user may slide the sliding portion 104 out, and the length selection mechanism 106 may lock the sliding portion 104 in the suitable, selected deployment position to receive paper in the paper cassette 100 for use in a printer.

That is, the paper cassette 100 may have the shipping length when the sliding portion 104 is arranged in the shipping position relative to the cassette portion 102 during shipping to optimize space efficiency and packing arrangements. For normal operation, the length selection mechanism 106 locks the sliding portion 104 at the selected deployment position when the sliding portion 104 first slides from the shipping position. Since the deployment position can be pre-selected while the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position, the length selection mechanism 106 may select the deployment position during manufacture to reduce manual adjustments by the end user.

FIG. 2A depicts the length selection mechanism 106 according to one example. The length selection mechanism 106 includes slots, of which two example slots 200-1 and 200-2 are depicted, a biased portion 202 to mate with the slots 200-1, 200-2, and an adjustable blocking mechanism 204 to adjustably block or unblock the slots 200-1, 200-2.

The slots 200-1, 200-2 are respectively associated with the different deployment positions of the sliding portion 104. That is, the slot 200-1 may be associated with a first deployment position (e.g., associated with a first paper length), and the slot 200-2 may be associated with a second deployment position (e.g., associated with a second paper length). In the present example, the slots 200-1, 200-2 are located at the sliding portion 104, and particularly, in a sidewall 206 of the sliding portion 104. The slots 200-1, 200-2 may be positioned perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sliding portion 104 such that respective openings of the respective slots 200-1, 200-2 at the sidewall are parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding portion 104.

The biased portion 202 is to mate with one of the slots 200-1, 200-2 as the sliding portion 104 slides relative to the cassette portion 102 from the shipping position. For example, the biased portion 202 may be located at the cassette portion 102, biased to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sliding portion 104 and into the respective openings of the slots. In particular, the mating of the biased portion 202 with one of the slots 200-1, 200-2 enables the length selection mechanism 106 to lock the sliding portion 104 in one of the deployment positions associated with the slots 200-1, 200-2. That is, since the biased portion 202 is biased perpendicular to the direction of movement, when it mates with one of the slots 200-1, 200-2 by moving into the respective opening of the slots 200-1, 200-2, further movement by the sliding portion 104 is restricted.

The adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is to mechanically block or unblock the slots 200-1, 200-2 to allow the length selection mechanism 106 to mechanically select a deployment position associated with one of the slots 200-1, 200-2. In particular, a first slot with which the biased portion 202 mates, as the sliding portion 104 slides relative to the cassette portion 102 from the shipping position, is the slot associated with the selected deployment position.

The adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is depicted in the present example as a flexible arm 208 which may be biased into a blocking position in the first slot 200-1 to block the first slot 200-1. When the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is in the blocking position blocking the first slot 200-1, the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 prevents the biased portion 202 from mating with the first slot 200-1. In particular, a blocking portion 209 of the flexible arm 208 occupies sufficient space within the slot 200-1 to restrict the biased portion 202 from mating with the first slot 200-1.

Since the first slot 200-1 is the slot closer on the sliding portion 104 to the biased portion 202, when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position, the biased portion 202 is restricted from mating with the first slot 200-1, and the sliding portion 104 continues to slide relative to the cassette portion 102 until the biased portion 202 mates with the second slot 200-2. In other words, when the first slot 200-1 is blocked, the biased portion 202 mates with the second slot 200-2, placing the sliding portion 104 into the second deployment position associated with the second slot 200-2.

FIG. 2B depicts the length selection mechanism 106 when the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 unblocks the first slot 200-1. In the present example, the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 further includes a locking mechanism to reversibly lock the flexible arm 208 into an unblocking position to unblock the first slot 200-1. The locking mechanism includes a protrusion from the flexible arm 208 and an aperture (seen in FIG. 2A) in the sliding portion 104. The protrusion is to mate with the aperture to lock the flexible arm in the unblocking position.

When the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is in the unblocking position, the flexible arm 208 is locked by the mating of the protrusion and the aperture in a position clear from the slot 200-1. In particular, the blocking portion 209 is sufficiently removed from the slot 200-1 such that the biased portion 202 may mate with the first slot 200-1. Thus, the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 allows the biased portion 202 to mate with the first slot 200-1. Since the first slot 200-1 is the slot closest on the sliding portion 104 to the biased portion 202 when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position, the biased portion 202 mates with the first slot 200-1. In other words, when the first slot 200-1 is unblocked, the biased portion mates with the first slot 200-1, placing the sliding portion 104 into the first deployment position associated with the first slot 200-1.

In the present example, the length selection mechanism 106 includes a single adjustable blocking mechanism 204, which may selectively block and unblock the first slot 200-1. Since there are only two slots 200-1, 200-2 in the present example, the blocking or unblocking of the first slot 200-1 effectively selects one of the slots 200-1, 200-2 and its associated deployment position. That is, when the flexible arm 208 blocks the first slot 200-1, the length selection mechanism 106 effectively selects the second slot 200-2 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position. Similarly, when the flexible arm 208 is in the unblocking position, the length selection mechanism 106 effectively selects the first slot 200-1 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position. In other examples, the length selection mechanism 106 may include more than one adjustable blocking mechanism, for example to allow blocking and/or unblocking of the slots when there are more than two slots and associated deployment positions.

As will be further appreciated, the length selection mechanism 106 may mechanically select one of the deployment positions when the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position. That is, the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is accessible while the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position and hence the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 may be manually adjusted (e.g., by a worker in a manufacturing facility during manufacture) while the sliding portion 104 is in the shipping position to select the desired deployment position. In particular, the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 may be flexed at the flexible arm 208 such that the protrusion mates with the aperture to unblock the first slot 200-1 and therefore select the first deployment position associated with the first slot 200-1 as the selected deployment position. Alternately, the protrusion may be released from the aperture to bias the flexible arm 208 to block the first slot 200-1 and therefore select the second slot associated with the second slot 200-2 as the selected deployment position.

In other examples, other adjustable blocking mechanisms to adjustably block or unblock the slots 200-1, 200-2 such that a first slot with which the biased portion 202 mates is the respective slot associated with the selected deployment position.

For example, FIGS. 3A and 3B depict the length selection mechanism 106 according to another example. The length selection mechanism 106 includes the slots 200-1, 200-2, the biased portion 202 to mate with the slots 200-1, 200-2 and the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 to adjustably block or unblock the slots 200-1, 200-2. The adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is depicted in the present example as a rotatable arm 300 to rotate between a blocking position to block the first slot 200-1, and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot 200-1.

The rotatable arm 300 is depicted in FIG. 3A as being rotated into the blocking position in the first slot 200-1 to block the first slot 200-1. When the rotatable arm 300 is rotated into the blocking position, the rotatable arm 300 occupies sufficient space within the slot 200-1 to restrict the biased portion 202 from mating with the first slot 200-1. Thus, when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position and is restricted from mating the first slot 200-1, the sliding portion 104 continues to slide relative to the cassette portion 102 until the biased portion 202 mates with the second slot 200-2. The length selection mechanism 106 therefore effectively selects the second slot 200-2 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position when the rotatable arm 300 is in the blocking position.

The rotatable arm 300 is depicted in FIG. 3B as being rotated into the unblocking position to unblock the first slot 200-1. When the rotatable arm 300 is rotated to the unblocking position, the rotatable arm 300 is rotated out of the slot 200-1 such that the biased portion 202 may mate with the first slot 200-1. Thus, when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position, the biased portion 202 is free to mate with the first slot 200-1. The length selection mechanism 106 therefore selects the first slot 200-1 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position when the rotatable arm 300 is in the unblocking position.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the length selection mechanism 106 according to a further example. The length selection mechanism 106 includes the slots 200-1, 200-2, the biased portion 202 to mate with the slots 200-1, 200-2 and the adjustable blocking mechanism 204 to adjustably block or unblock the slots 200-1, 200-2. The adjustable blocking mechanism 204 is depicted in the present example as a slidable arm 400 to slide between a blocking position to block the first slot 200-1, and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot 200-1.

The slidable arm 400 is depicted in FIG. 4A as being moved to the unblocking position to unblock the first slot 200-1. In the present example, the slidable arm 400 slides back and forth within the first slot 200-1. Accordingly, when the slidable arm 400 is moved to the unblocking position, the slidable arm 400 may be moved to an edge of the first slot 200-1 to provide space within the first slot 200-1 for the biased portion 202. For example, the slot 200-1 may have an open edge capable of receiving the slidable arm 400. Alternately, the first slot 200-1 may therefore be sufficiently wide to receive the biased portion 202 when the slidable arm 400 is proximate an edge of the first slot 200-1. Thus, when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position, the biased portion 202 is free to mate with the first slot 200-1. The length selection mechanism 106 therefore selects the first slot 200-1 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position when the slidable arm 400 is in the unblocking position.

In other examples, rather than sliding back and forth within the first slot 200-1, the slidable arm 400 may slide in and out of the first slot 200-1. In such examples, the slidable arm 400 may be moved out of the slot 200-1 such that the biased portion 202 may mate with the first slot 200-1 to allow selection of the first slot 200-1 and its associated deployment position.

The slidable arm 400 is depicted in FIG. 4B as being moved to the blocking position in the first slot 200-1 to block the first slot 200-1. When the slidable arm 400 is moved into the blocking position, the slidable arm 400 occupies sufficient space within the slot 200-1 to restrict the biased portion 202 from mating with the first slot 200-1. Since the slot 200-1 is sufficiently wide that the biased portion 202 may be received in the slot 200-1 when the slidable arm 400 is proximate an edge of the slot 200-1, the unblocking position of the slidable arm 400 may be distant from the edges of the slot 200-1 (e.g., towards a center of the slot 200-1). Thus, when the sliding portion 104 slides from the shipping position and is restricted from mating with the first slot 200-1, the sliding portion 104 continues to slide relative to the cassette portion 102 until the biased portion 202 mates with the second slot 200-2. The length selection mechanism 106 therefore effectively selects the second slot 200-2 and its associated deployment position as the selected deployment position when the slidable arm 400 is in the blocking position.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional side view of example printer 500 with a paper cassette to adjust between different positions. In particular, the printer 500 includes a chassis 502, a paper cassette 504, and a catch mechanism 506. The chassis 502 is generally to house the internal components of the printer 500 (e.g., printheads, rollers, and the like), and the paper cassette 504 is generally to receive and store paper to be dispensed during a printing operation. The paper cassette 504 is capable of being deployed to a number of different positions, for example to accommodate different standard paper sizes. The catch mechanism 506 is to catch a portion of the paper cassette 504 to facilitate the selection of a deployment position, as will be described further below.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the printer 500 with the paper cassette 504 removed. The paper cassette 504 is similar to the paper cassette 100 and can adjust between different positions. The paper cassette 504 includes a cassette portion 602 to slide out of and into the chassis 502, a sliding portion 604 to slide relative to the cassette portion 602 to adjust a length of the paper cassette 504, and a length selection mechanism 606. Together, the cassette portion 602 and the sliding portion 604 define a volume of the paper cassette 504 into which paper is received to be dispensed to the printer 500.

The sliding portion 604 is initially arranged in a shipping position to define a shipping length of the paper cassette 504. The sliding portion 604 is further deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette 100 is longer than the shipping length.

The length selection mechanism 606 is to mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions and lock the sliding portion 604 at the selected deployment position. For example, the length selection mechanism 606 may include cooperating slots, biased portions, adjustable blocking mechanisms to select the deployment position, similar to the length selection mechanism 106. The components of the length selection mechanism 606 may interact mechanically, for example by rotation, sliding, biasing, or the like, to enable the selection of the deployment position, similar to the length selection mechanism 106. In particular, the length selection mechanism 606 is to select the deployment position while the sliding portion 604 is in the shipping position.

The catch mechanism 506 interacts with the paper cassette 504 when the cassette portion 602 first slides out of the chassis 502. In particular, the catch mechanism 506 is to catch the sliding portion 604 relative to the chassis 502 as the cassette portion 602 first slides out of the chassis 502. The catch mechanism 506 therefore causes the sliding portion 604 to slide relative to the cassette portion 602 to cause the length selection mechanism to lock the sliding portion at the selected deployment position. The catch mechanism 506 may be, for example, a protrusion from the sliding portion 604 or the chassis 502.

The paper cassette 504 may have the shipping length when the sliding portion 604 is arranged in the shipping position relative to the cassette portion 602 during shipping to optimize space efficiency and packing arrangements. For example, FIG. 7A depicts a rear perspective view of the printer 500 when the sliding portion 604 is in the shipping position. As can be seen, in the shipping position, the sliding portion 604 is within the chassis 502 and is, in the present example, substantially flush with the chassis 502.

Since the sliding portion 604 is substantially flush with the chassis 502 in the shipping position, and the length of the paper cassette 504 is longer than the shipping length, the chassis 502 may include an opening at a side adjacent the sliding portion 604 to allow the sliding portion 604 to extend from the chassis 502 through the opening. For example, FIG. 7B depicts a rear perspective view of the printer 500 when the sliding portion 604 is in a first deployment position. The chassis 502 further includes an opening 700 to allow the sliding portion 604 to extend from the chassis 502 through the opening 700 when the sliding portion 604 is in the first deployment position.

FIG. 7C depicts a rear perspective view of the printer 500 when the sliding portion 604 is in a second deployment position. As can be seen, when the sliding portion 604 is in the second deployment position, the length of the paper cassette 504 is longer than the length of the paper cassette 504 when the sliding portion is in the first deployment position.

The length selection mechanism 606 may further be accessible when the cassette portion 602 extends out the chassis 502. For example, FIG. 8 depicts a portion of the paper cassette 504 when the cassette portion 602 is extended out or removed from the chassis 502. In the present example, the length selection mechanism 606 includes a biased portion 800 to mate with slots (not shown) at the cassette portion 602 to lock the sliding portion 604 at one deployment position. As can be seen, the biased portion is manually accessible to allow a user to move the biased portion 800 out of a slot. The length selection mechanism 606 further includes an adjustable mechanism 802 that is manually accessible while the cassette portion 602 extends out the chassis 502. In particular, in the present example, the adjustable mechanism 802 is a flexible arm 804 with a protrusion 806 and aperture 808. The flexible arm 804 is manually accessible, for example from the back of the paper cassette 504 when the adjustable mechanism 802 is in the blocking position, to move the flexible arm 804 to the unblocking position. The protrusion 806 and the aperture 808 may also cooperate to lock the flexible arm 804 in the unblocking position. In the unblocking position, the protrusion 806 is manually accessible through the aperture 808 to remove the protrusion 806 from the aperture 808 and allow the flexible arm 804 to be biased in the blocking position. The manual accessibility may therefore allow for a user to manually adjust the length of the paper cassette 504, for example to receive paper of a different size.

Referring to FIG. 9 , in some examples, the sliding portion 604 may include a length adjuster 900 which may be shifted along the sliding portion 604. The length adjuster 900 may be used in addition to or alternately with the manually accessible adjustable mechanism 802 to allow the user to manually adjust the paper cassette 504 to receive paper of a different size.

As described above, an example paper cassette for a printer includes a length selection mechanism which facilitates the automatic selection of an appropriate deployment position, and therefore paper cassette length, when the paper cassette is first unpacked from the shipping position. In particular, the length selection mechanism may block or unblock slots associated with different deployment positions to allow a biased arm to mate with the slot associated with the appropriate selected deployment position.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the above examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

1. A paper cassette comprising: a cassette portion; a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the paper cassette, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; and a length selection mechanism to: mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions, while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position.
 2. The paper cassette of claim 1, wherein the length selection mechanism comprises: slots respectively associated with the different deployment positions; a biased portion to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position; and an adjustable blocking mechanism to adjustably block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the one deployment position.
 3. The paper cassette of claim 1, wherein the length selection mechanism comprises: slots, at the sliding portion, respectively associated with the different deployment positions; a biased portion, at the cassette portion, to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position; and an adjustable blocking mechanism to block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the deployment position.
 4. The paper cassette of claim 1, wherein the length selection mechanism comprises: slots in a sidewall of the sliding portion, the slots respectively associated with the different deployment positions, the slots positioned perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sliding portion such that respective openings of respective slots at the sidewall are parallel to the direction of movement; a biased portion to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, the biased portion biased to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sliding portion and into the respective openings of the slots; and an adjustable blocking mechanism to block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the deployment position.
 5. The paper cassette of claim 1, wherein the length selection mechanism includes an adjustable mechanism that is manually adjustable while the sliding portion is in the shipping position to select the one deployment position.
 6. A paper cassette comprising: a cassette portion; a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the cassette portion, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to a first position and a second position at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; a first slot and a second slot at the sliding portion respectively associated with the first position and the second position; a biased portion at the cassette portion to mate with the first slot or the second slot as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, the first slot being closer to the biased portion than the second slot when the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and an adjustable blocking mechanism to adjustably block, or unblock, at least the first slot such that when the first slot is unblocked, the biased portion mates with the first slot, placing the sliding portion into the first position, and when the first slot is blocked, the biased portion mates with the second slot, placing the sliding portion into the second position.
 7. The paper cassette of claim 6, wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises: a flexible arm biased into a blocking position in the first slot to block the first slot; and a locking mechanism to reversibly lock the flexible arm into an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.
 8. The paper cassette of claim 6, wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises: a flexible arm biased into a blocking position in the first slot to block the first slot; and a locking mechanism to reversibly lock the flexible arm into an unblocking position to unblock the first slot, the locking mechanism comprising a combination of a protrusion from the flexible arm and an aperture in the sliding portion, the protrusion to mate with the aperture to reversibly lock the flexible arm into the unblocking position.
 9. The paper cassette of claim 6, wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises: a rotatable arm to rotate between; a blocking position, to block the first slot; and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.
 10. The paper cassette of claim 6, wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises: a slidable arm to move between: a blocking position, to block the first slot; and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.
 11. A printer comprising: a chassis; a paper cassette comprising: a cassette portion to slide out of, and into, the chassis; a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the cassette portion, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; a length selection mechanism to: lock the sliding portion at one deployment position, of the different deployment positions, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position; and mechanically select the one deployment position while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and a catch mechanism to catch the sliding portion relative to the chassis as the cassette portion first slides out of the chassis, to cause the sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to cause the length selection mechanism to lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position.
 12. The printer of claim 11, wherein the catch mechanism comprises a protrusion from the sliding portion or the chassis.
 13. The printer of claim 11, wherein the chassis comprises an opening at a side adjacent the sliding portion, wherein, in the shipping position, the sliding portion is within the chassis, or flush with the chassis, and wherein, in the one deployment position, the sliding portion extends from the chassis through the opening.
 14. The printer of claim 11, wherein the length selection mechanism includes a biased portion to mate with slots at the cassette portion to lock the sliding portion at one deployment position, the biased portion being manually accessible while the cassette portion extends out the chassis to move the biased portion out of a slot.
 15. The printer of claim 11, wherein the length selection mechanism includes an adjustable mechanism that is manually accessible while the sliding portion is in the shipping position, to select the one deployment position, and further manually accessible while the cassette portion extends out the chassis. 